Ghana has unveiled a pioneering approach to tackling the country’s long-standing rabies problem.
Dr Edem Apewokin of the Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) stressed that the existing system of recording dog vaccinations was ineffective.
“To address this, we have partnered with ISCI Lab from South Korea, which has developed cutting-edge technology to create e-certificates for pets,” he told Joy News at the launch on Saturday.
According to Dr. Apewokin, “By implementing this technology, we aim to modernize the tracking of dog vaccinations across the country.
“We are hopeful that the Government will embrace and support this initiative, providing veterinary services with the resources necessary for national implementation.”
He added that the technology promises to improve the vaccination process, improve the management of dog bite cases and provide essential resources for veterinarians to vaccinate dogs and effectively control stray dog populations.
Choi Yon Jin, a researcher at ISCI Lab, recalls, “When the VSD first contacted us in September 2023, they reported that although volunteers are giving the vaccinations, there is no reliable way to track who received them.
“In other countries, microchip injections with RFID chips are used for dog identification and record keeping. However, in Ghana, microchip implantation is rare and expensive, so an alternative identification technology was needed.”
“We have developed a system that allows registration of animals based on a face image, a body image and a series of nose pattern images captured using an app. We enter basic information about the dog and the contact details of the owner and also enable the upload of vaccination records.
“The system records the longitude and latitude of where the vaccination took place, the type of vaccine and when it was administered.
“Also, it allows uploading an image of the paper certificate if available. That way, once the dogs are vaccinated, not just for rabies but for any disease, the record is kept in one place,” he explained.
Choi Yong-jin stressed the importance of following up on annual vaccinations for human health as well.
“For example, when someone is bitten by a rabid dog, it is associated with human health issues. We are meeting with health officials to discuss the interaction between animal and human health.”
He noted that the technology is already in use in Korea and that ISCI Lab recently signed a contract with a parastatal in Australia.
“We plan to release this package around the beginning of August and it will be officially in use in the greyhound racing industry by August or September.
“Ghana is the third country we’re bringing this technology to, after Korea and Australia. We’re really excited about the work we can do with veterinary and human health here using our technology.”
In the lab, veterinary students tested the app with dogs present. David Klenam told Joy News that the app will significantly improve the system.
“This will help our system because currently, it is not effective in identifying dogs that have been vaccinated.
“If someone is bitten by a dog, it is difficult to know the owner and whether they have been vaccinated or not. But with the app, it is easy to know and take action when needed,” he said.
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